MiNK Therapeutics (NASDAQ: INKT) announced a collaboration with C-Further to develop a PRAME-targeted TCR-engineered iNKT cell therapy for pediatric cancers. The partnership provides up to $1.1 million in non-dilutive funding to advance the therapy toward investigational new drug application-enabling development.

The therapy targets PRAME, a tumor-associated antigen expressed across multiple pediatric and adult malignancies including sarcomas, acute myeloid leukemia, and medulloblastoma. The treatment combines PRAME-specific antigen recognition with MiNK's invariant natural killer T cell platform.

C-Further, an international pediatric oncology therapeutics consortium enabled by Cancer Research Horizons, LifeArc and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, selected this as one of its first programs since launching. The consortium focuses on developing treatments specifically for childhood cancers rather than repurposing adult therapies.

Under the agreement, MiNK will receive milestone-based payments and retain a double-digit share of downstream commercial revenues. The collaboration is non-exclusive, allowing MiNK to continue independent development of its iNKT platform across other oncology indications.

MiNK serves as the lead industry partner, providing its iNKT platform and engineering capabilities. Investigators at the University of Southampton, led by Dr. Ali Roghanian and Dr. Salah Mansour, will conduct preclinical studies across multiple pediatric cancer models to select a clinical candidate for human trials.

The company's iNKT platform is designed as an allogeneic, off-the-shelf therapy that can be manufactured in advance and delivered without HLA matching or lymphodepleting chemotherapy. MiNK's lead candidate, agenT-797, is currently in clinical development for graft-versus-host disease, solid tumors, and severe pulmonary inflammation.

"Being selected as one of the first programs supported by C-Further underscores both the maturity of MiNK's iNKT platform and its potential to address areas of profound unmet need such as pediatric cancers," said Jennifer Buell, President and Chief Executive Officer of MiNK Therapeutics.